West Tisbury

If last week’s column sounded too forward-looking, it was. Somehow I thought it was the 15th coming up last Thursday instead of the 8th, and I lost a whole week. My special apologies to the Lobb family for misstating the date of Kathy’s mom’s funeral service, and to anyone who missed it thinking it was the 17th instead of March 10.

Daylight Saving Time has come with its customary disruption of sleep and inner time clocks. I was working outside in my garden today, thinking that it really doesn’t matter to me whether it’s light later or earlier in the day. What I could really use is a 48-hour day. It’s the lack of time that’s the problem. Not only do you have all the chores and work you are already doing; now add in the garden, the lawn, outside painting (house or art) and whatever else extra you do in the summer. Plus guests. It’s just too much for an already stretched 24 hours.

Eleanor Neubert told me that she has 19 lambs down at Flat Point Farm. The first set of triplets arrived on Leap Day.

Alan and Debbie Coutinho were in town last weekend to visit their newest grandson, Angus Vincent, along with the rest of their Vincent and Hawksbee families.

Sad news from Jean Wexler, that her darling poodle, Rufus, died. Rufus was 12 years old and quite the well-known man about town as he accompanied his mistress everywhere. You could always see his elegant profile at the car window, awaiting Jean’s return from her errands. At home, his head spread across Jean’s lap, looking for extra pats and keeping her safe. That was his job. I can’t imagine Jean without a poodle and I know she can’t either. Rufus was a grand fellow. He will be missed by all who loved him.

My annual email arrived from Dorothy Bangs and Judy Baynes, announcing the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days on March 20 and 21. Pre-paid orders will be delivered by volunteers next Tuesday, March 20. Bouquets will be for sale Tuesday afternoon at the Edgartown Stop & Shop and at Tony’s Market in Oak Bluffs. Wednesday morning they will be at the down-Island Cronig’s and Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. Bouquets are $10 each. Proceeds go to support research for a cure and to provide support to cancer patients.

Mariah HallBillsback is spending her spring semester studying in Denmark. She is a junior at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania.

The West Tisbury Board of Selectmen invite everyone to their Wednesday afternoon meeting, March 21, 4:30, at Town Hall. They will be discussing beer and wine regulations. This will be coming up at our Annual Town Meeting in April, as three restaurants in town have asked for licenses to sell alcohol. Come, listen, be informed.

The FARM Institute is offering one-acre plots to Islanders interested in trying new crops or new growing processes. Water, tillable ground, assistance with planning and expenses is available through a grant from North East Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education. Applications may be downloaded at www.farminstitute.org.

Dr. Lorna Andrade invites anyone interested in a nursing career to attend an information session in Windemere’s first-floor conference room, on Saturday, March 24, at 10 am. An administrative team from Diman Tech School of Nursing will discuss the program and the Pre-Nursing Test Essential Academic Skills exam for entry into Practical Nursing Programs. Dr. Andrade has been tireless in exploring opportunities for Islanders to develop and expand their skills in nursing. Come and learn about the program, financial aid, and testing schedules.

Don’t forget about all the events detailed in last week’s column. West Tisbury Parks & Rec Family Skate is Sunday, March 18, noon to 1:30 pm, at the Martha’s Vineyard Arena. Ornithologist Vern Laux will be the guest speaker at the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club meeting Tuesday, March 20, 1 pm, at the Wakeman Center. Emma Young will teach a class for teenagers about constructing tiny books (3- and 5-hole pamphlet stitch, dust jackets, Japanese binding, and woven spine binding) at the West Tisbury Library on Wednesday, March 21, at 3:30 pm. Pre-register at the library. The library’s Monday Night Movie is “The Maltese Falcon.” It starts at 7 pm and has free popcorn included.

The air already smells and feels like spring. Yesterday I saw honeybees buzzing around the crocuses, a hopeful sign that they are recovering from the hive collapses of the past two years. The quince bush outside our dining room window is covered with coral-colored buds. Blue anemones that Ruth Kirchmeier gave me several years ago are now a good-sized clump. Talley and Nanuk have begun digging under the garden shed, looking for rabbits or skunks, whatever lives under there. I’m outside wearing shorts on March 12.